The court enforced administration order granted today against Eclear (UK) was widely expected. However what ultimately has to come out of the undoubted ensuing enquiry is how such an “aggregator” type company could function unregulated in the UK. The other questions that need to be answered is who is the “Acquirer of Record” (Eclear was not a bank and could itself not clear credit cards)?. What role do Visa and Mastercard who formulate the credit card rules have to play in this fiasco? What checks did travel regulators and trade associations do for their licence holders and members in relation to Eclear?

CAA to launch industry consultation over flawed scheme

A key aspect in the growth and development of an industry is the quality of the management that it employs and generates from within. The Travel Industry has attracted many worthwhile individuals who through a mix of entrepreneurial flair allied to prudence and sensibly applied corporate governance have created and presided over very successful and well run travel entities. Rightly their achievements have been lauded and tangibly recognised. When such individuals proffer advice on the management or operation of a travel business then young managers and entrepreneurs should listen and glean from the wealth of experience they can give.

For the last month or so everything you have read and heard has screamed “the sky is falling in”. However the underlying feeling I picked up at The Travel Convention was that the industry is remaining positive and proactive despite the turbulent times. In the near thirty years that I have advised the travel industry, its amazing resilience and ability to adapt to the changing marketplace has always impressed me greatly.

In the last month the chief executives of the travel industry’s two largest operators have been singing from the same hymn sheet. Thomas Cook’s Manny Fontenla-Novoa confirmed to the City that “the summer holiday is a must-have” and that his research reflects that holidays are the last thing people skimp on and they will just [...]